The once popular My Name Is Earl sitcom was cancelled last month. After four seasons on NBC, the show’s executive producer, Greg Garcia, was informed early in the morning, just 30 minutes before the news was given to the press.
While being dumped by the peacock network didn’t come as a huge surprise, Garcia wasn’t ready for the show to end. He told the LA Times, “There’s a lot of reasons the show would work well on another network, and I think we’d do very well with some promotion. We certainly feel like we have more stories to tell. That’s why we left the show on season four on a cliffhanger. And I know we’ve got at least another season in us and a lot of great ideas. So if another network wants to put us on, fantastic. Nothing that would make me happier.”
It was largely presumed that the FOX network would take on Earl since the sitcom’s produced by a sister company, 20th Century Fox Television. Execs at the network apparently downplayed the possibility and, when the time came, decided to pass.
Ethan Suplee, “Randy” on the show, broke the news to fans, writing, “Thanks for the effort guys, we appreciate it. It seems that Earl is actually dead. Fox has passed. The mustache will live on in our hearts.”
Now, TBS is apparently interested in keeping Earl going. The cable channel has been airing the show in syndication and expressed some interest in picking up the show at the May upfronts.
Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, told Company Town that the network likes to develop original programming but that new episodes of an established show like Earl would be an asset in drawing viewers to sample them. At the time, Koonin hadn’t been approached by 20th Century Fox but said, “Tell them to give me a call. We’re in the book.”
The discussions for 13 new episodes of Earl are still in the early stages and there are a some major hurdles that would need to be overcome before they could become a reality. The actors and writers have all been released from their contracts and they’d have to be renegotiated. Also, the show is an expensive single-camera comedy and the overall budget would be an issue as well.
On the positive side however, the show is already in syndication and more episodes would mean additional rerun money for years to come. With that in mind, the studio and participating talent will likely want to make the deal work if at all possible.
While Earl’s return is still considered a longshot, the fact that there are discussions to revive the series is certainly a good sign. What do you think?
Image courtesy 20th Century Fox.


Please bring it back I love my name is earl. You got to bring it back.
what they should do is make a movie instead of a another season, you know give it a proper finish. While I would like another season, I also would like a awesome finish for earl and randy
Hard to believe that they would do that. Look at the votes – 11,063 for and 0 against. I have yet to meet one person who would dislike “My Name Is Earl”. I’m pretty sure season 5 would be a success.
i just finished my name is earl on netflix and to find out that the show has been cancelled is a heartbreaker. i’ve gotta know what happenes next. this was one of my favorite shows, and now i’ll never know how it ends. that’s so depressing!
Yeah, we really need another season! the show was great. I looked foward to every episode and it’s just a shame that they would cancel it like this. The show was funny and inspiring. So many people like and watched this show so i has to be good for business.. Bring Earl back!!
DAMN MY NAME IS EARL IS THE BEST SHOW. BRING IT BACK MAKE SEASON 5
My Name is Earl is one of my all time favorite shows….i can’t believe they would cancel it, and how could they let it end like that…so unfinished and leaving a question to never be answered, behind. I really wish, and I’m sure a lot of other people agree, that they would bring My Name is Earl back for a 5th season. It’s too good of a show to just throw away.
Bring back this show DUMMIES!
My family loves this show. My friends like the show. TBS bring it back please. Season 4 did end on a cliff hanger and I need to know what’s next. I need me an Earl fix!
Ever since I watched that show, I’ve been writing a list on things I want and need to do in life.
Bring Back “My name is Earl”! Everyone is dying to know what happends next and who is the father. My name is earl isn’t a bad show. it has no bad inflences at all to kids or people. i see it really inspiring. I beleive some people may be inspired by this show and know waht Karma really is.
this sucks, my name is earl is the best ******* show in the world and the worst part is that jason lee got a new show on tnt thats successful so ik its over, but still, at least give us a script of how it ends or something like that
BRING EARL BACK NOW.
Give us another season at least! Jeez. This show is great! I watch it on Netflix constantly.
dude just finished it on netflix and that was ass. season five please.
I’m an american, And I also am pissed off about this. I MISS MY NAME IS EARL, I have seen every episode over a hundred times, please bring it back IT DESERVES A PROPER END PLEASE. **** YOU ALL WHO DENY BRINGING EARL BACK! I miss it so much I can hardly stand it. please give it an ending season five, or atleast a movie to end the legendary show… PLEASE